First Jesuit. First Latin American. And a new pope who chose as his first act a simple request: please pray for me.

The recent resignation of Pope Benedict XVI took the world by surprise and for good reason. More than 600 years had passed since a pope last left his post.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, is a man of prayer, a man of action, and a humble man who has always promoted others over himself. In fact, it was Bergoglio who bowed out of the running in the papal election of 2005 to facilitate the rise of Benedict XVI.

However, the new pope faces a Catholic Church in crisis—a church that has lost the media pull of John Paul II and is still hounded by pedophile scandals and the filtration of documents from former papal administrations. His first year may not be an easy one, but neither this man nor the church itself has ever shied away from the challenges thrust upon them.

Pope Francis is austere and simple but has vast theological training. He is a man of his time but one who also travels by subway and bus just like any other citizen. Tirelessly fighting poverty and marginalization, he is a beacon of hope for the poor, persecuted sectors of the church. Has a Catholic spring finally arrived after a very long winter?

Francis is the complete biography of a humble man who has suddenly become one of the most powerful and influential men on the planet.

Contributor(s)

Mario Escobar

About the Contributor(s)

Mario Escobar

Mario Escobar has a master’s degree in modern history and has written numerous books and articles that delve into the depths of church history, the struggle of sectarian groups, and the discovery and colonization of the Americas. Escobar, who makes his home in Madrid, Spain, is passionate about history and its mysteries.

ISBN-10

0849922038

ISBN-13

9780849922039

Release Date

May 14, 2013

Weight (lbs)

0.4500

Height

8.50

Width

5.4

Length

224

Length Unit

Pages

Publisher

Thomas Nelson

Price

$15.99

Format

Paperback

Language

English

Customer Reviews

Review by Cozy Little Book Journal

Rating

This book really made me want to know more. Published long after the ordination of Pope Francis, the book serves as a brief biography of the former Jesuit priest who became pope after the shocking resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. But, as author Mario Escobar admits, much of what we really want to know about Pope Francis--namely, what kind of pope he will be and how he will lead the Catholic Church in the twenty-first century--remains to be seen.

But I like this book. I found it fair and pragmatic. Escobar expresses admiration for each of the last three popes without being blind to their flaws (though he is kinder than most when it comes to Pope Benedict XVI). He speaks the language of the religious historian rather than the apologist or critic. He is writing neither a sermon nor an exposé, but rather a simple background piece on the man who is currently capturing the world's attention.

Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of this book from Booksneeze. I was not required to write a favourable review and I was not otherwise compensated for my review. All opinions expressed are strictly my own. (Posted on 7/16/2013)